This week the GSUS LIVE unit has visited its fourth school in Thurrock – Treetops.
Treetops is considered the best school of its kind in the whole of the south east, and parents move close to it just to get their children in there. The school moved from Dell Road in Grays a few years back and its all-new purpose-built campus is now situated on the old Torrells site at the end of Buxton Road in Woodside.
The team this week has been made up of Colin Baker, Hugh Blackman, Kirstie Diver, John Ironmonger, David Bates, Andy Blakey, Lois Blakey, Tim Harrold, Maria Levy and Emily Levy, with the odd visit of Andy Higgs to check the water and diesel. The link teacher has been Judith Lisgarten.
The reception of the students – and the staff – has been overwhelmingly warm. The students are polite, eager to learn and obviously love their school. Treetops’ hospitality has been more than generous with the provision of refreshments and meals.
The Head Teacher has been into the GSUS LIVE unit and had a go on the software. He described it as an excellent resource.
The response of the students to the GSUS LIVE presentation has been extremely positive, and during the plenaries some of them have made some incredibly perceptive comments. Former ICT teacher and now working for Thurrock’s Methodist Churches, David Bates, has brought both challenging yet entertaining conclusions to a number of the 90-minute sessions, drawing from the young people deep thoughts and quite a bit of knowledge about Jesus.
No one leaves the unit without hearing how the three themes of GSUS LIVE – fear, forgiveness and rejection – are all things that Jesus can help us with because he experienced them all on the cross. And, of course, the core Christian belief concerning what occurred next – that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive – “GSUS LIVE”!
It is safe today that the GSUS LIVE team is receiving far more blessing from the Treetops students than they are from the team. Their understanding of Jesus and the Kingdom is implicitely intuitive, profoundly natural.
Matthew 19:13-15
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ … he had placed his hands on them…
GSUS LIVE Prayer Time
GSUS LIVE Prayer Time… this Friday (12 October) is being hosted by Rob Groves and Caroline Smith of Fresh Hope Community at the former Victoria Road Chapel in Stanford-le-Hope.
Prayers will be said for St Clere’s School which GSUS LIVE is visiting next week.
Start time: 7.30pm.
